I am using this site to keep track of our adoption timeline. For now the site is not going to be shared, but eventually I hope to use it to keep everyone up to date on our journey to our daughter.
So far:
December 16, 2006 - Submitted application to Children's Hope International
January 2007 - Signed agency agreement, paid the $300 fee to make us "official"
February 5, 2007 - BRIAN SAYS YES!!!! I know this must have seemed evident before, but he was still a hesitant yes when we signed the initial paperwork. We had decided to go ahead with the application in 06 because of some agency changes that were happening in 07. We wanted to be under the 06 structure IF we decided to proceed. Then we had three months to sign the agency fee, which we went ahead and did since we were fairly sure we were going to adopt, just not 100% commited. But Monday, February 5, 2007, Brian woke up and said he thought we should proceed. So needless to say, this week I have been floating on a cloud and seeing all these moms with cute girls and thinking I am going to join those ranks some day! :)
I got our passport applications (ours have expired) and went ahead and filled out apps for the boys too. We have gathered all the necessary information, we just have to go to the post office to sign the apps in front of the postmasters. That is the first tiny step in a 1,000 mile journey to our daughter. But the journey of a thousand miles, begins with one step and now we have taken that one step.
I am not looking forward to all the paperwork and tedium. But I am SO looking forward to seeing our friends in Russia and especially to meeting our daughter. I can't wait to see what God has in store for us.
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23